Red Earth Finance

30/07/2026

Something that has stuck with me since my banking days is this.

We made switching banks straightforward once. Barely anyone moved.

That taught me people do not always delay because the process is hard.

Sometimes they are unsure who to trust.

Sometimes they are just not ready yet.

Whenever you’re ready, we’re here.

Comment PLAN and I’ll DM the article link. No pressure, just the guide.

29/07/2026

We made switching banks effortless once. Almost no one moved. That taught me something I still think about.

People do not always delay because the process is hard. Sometimes they are unsure who to trust. Sometimes they are worried about making the wrong decision. Sometimes they feel it can wait.

The same thing happens when someone realises their mortgage may run past the day they want to stop working.

They have done the maths. They know the dates do not line up. They are just not ready to act yet.

That is normal. I do not believe in pushing people.

Our latest article explains how to build a plan to pay off your mortgage before retirement.

https://www.redearthfinance.com.au/post/pay-off-mortgage-before-retirement

Read it when you are ready.

You are in your 50s with a mortgage that runs past retirement. Here is why you have not acted, and the one change that clears it before your income stops.

22/07/2026

The maths often says invest. Plenty of people still want the mortgage gone before they retire. That is not financial illiteracy. It is a risk decision, and a legitimate one.
If you are in that camp, the question is not just whether the numbers stack up on paper. It is whether the loan structure still makes sense for the life you actually want to live.

For me, that is the real gap. A cheaper rate can help. But if the loan still runs well past retirement, the end date is still the issue. The super and investment side belongs with a licensed adviser. The loan structure side is mine.

General information only, not financial advice.

20/07/2026

Pay off the mortgage or invest? The maths says one thing. Most people's gut says another. Both camps have a real case. Which one are you in? My own view is coming later this week.

General information only, not personal or financial advice.

17/07/2026

"I'm 54, I owe $380K, can I retire at 62?"
A client asked me that last week. The honest answer: possible.
Barely.
Their repayments were comfortable. That was the trap. Comfortable meant the loan ran to age 75, and retiring at 62 meant retiring with $290K still owing.
Three changes fixed it. A rate they hadn't questioned in 12 years. $40K moved from savings into a real offset. Repayments recalibrated to the retirement date instead of the bank's term.
New target: $4,470 a month. Their tested surplus covered it with $80 to spare. That's the honest maths. Not easy. Not impossible. Possible.
The part worth remembering: start the same plan at 58 and it needs $7,050 a month. Waiting is the expensive part.
If your loan term runs past your retirement date, the numbers are worth testing. And if the date can't realistically move, I'll tell you that too.
General information only, not personal advice.

17/07/2026

For Gen X homeowners, mortgage stress is not always about today.
Sometimes it is the bigger question underneath everything.

Will this loan still be hanging around when I want to slow down?

That is why your mortgage timeline matters.

Not panic. Just a clear view of what comes next

If your loan runs past when you want to stop working, it is worth spending 15 minutes looking at the numbers.

16/07/2026

Here’s the uncomfortable bit: a mortgage can feel manageable right up until the day retirement gets close.

In this case, the repayment wasn’t the issue. The loan term was. Once the numbers were tested properly, the strategy came down to rate, offset, and timing … not wishful thinking.

That’s the part most people miss. The question isn’t only whether the repayment fits today. It’s whether the structure still works when the paycheques stop.

Link to the full blog is in the comments.

10/07/2026

Being loyal to your lender is fine.
Being loyal without checking whether it is still costing you? That is a different story.

With so much pressure on household budgets, now is not the time to assume your current loan is still the best fit.

A quick review can give you clarity.

I talk to people in this exact situation every week. If that is you, let’s have a conversation.

03/07/2026

What is your rate?

What are your options?

Could your loan be structured better?

Is your mortgage timeline still realistic?

Those are the questions worth answering before you keep guessing.

If you are not sure where you stand, that is the first thing to fix.

26/06/2026

Mortgage stress is not always dramatic.
Sometimes it is quiet.

It is checking the account twice.
Avoiding the loan statement.
Wondering if you should refinance, restructure, or just wait it out.

If that sounds familiar, you are not the only one.
A review can help you see what needs to change.

Worth a conversation if you are in this position.